Thursday, 21 April 2022 | 10.2°C Dublin

The new Skoda Enyaq SportLine SUV offers plenty of space and dependable battery life projections

It has only been on the road a short time really but it feels like the Skoda Enyaq electric SUV has been around for a long, long time.

I suppose that is a reflection of how much it has been a part of the turn towards electrification of private transportation.

I had a fresh look at it recently as part of a catch-up under the guise of the new SportLine Enyaq 80 variant, which adds lot of bits and pieces that improve comfort, looks and driving.

The overall effect is a car in a virulent blue colour that has bulked up considerably more than original models.

I will always remember the Enyaq for one simple reason: I drove a different model around Ireland nearly a year ago.

I nearly spoiled the adventure with my persistent worry about having enough charge left. There were frustrating moments but, as is often the case, I enjoyed it more in retrospect than contemporaneously.

I was determined not to let that happen again. That stemmed from a number of reasons, one of which was that I wouldn’t be travelling as extensively.

The other is that the Enyaq had shown me previously that its calculations and projections of the charge left were among the most accurate and dependable of all the electric cars I’ve driven this past while.

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If it said 200km left in the battery, then there was a good chance you could bank on it covering that distance and stop peering every five minutes at the screen.

Apart from peering being of little use in terms of adding any distance, it was reassuring to know that nothing too dramatic was going down without my knowledge.

So I drove freely and enjoyed the experience. The cabin was comfortable and had that feeling of plushness you get when you have leather anywhere around.

It has always had a sense of roominess; there is capacity for five – three at the back is a little bit of a squeeze but certainly feasible. And there was plenty of room in the boot (585 litres).

My test car also had 21-inch alloys, light/view pack, driver assist, comfort and climate packs. The bigger wheels gave it real attitude on its profile.

I thought the drive was a bit soft but that is the way with SUVs of this size anyway.

One thing that gets lost in talk about the Enyaq is that it comes with a service plan.

It includes three services, one set of replacement tyres, brake pads and wiper blades. They reckon you save around 39pc compared with pay-as-you-go servicing.

That’s unusual in its own way. Also different is a new buying structure. You pick your battery pack size first and then configure your vehicle. I’m told it’s highly popular.

After a few good drives in the SportLine I must say I was impressed.

I had mentally factored in a bit of mid-life blandness creeping in but that is far from the case. This new highly equipped version keeps it at the fore of the segment. But it is costly at nearly €60,000.

77kW, 204hp, range of 520km, road tax €120. Price €53,525 on the road. Test car, with options, €57,762.

Spec includes virtual cockpit; rear-view camera including sensors; 13-inch touchscreen display including navigation; leather and suedia upholstery. Extras: 21-inch wheels; light/view, driver assist pack.

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